Israel Takes ‘gravest View’ on Renewed Syrian Border Attacks

September 14, 1962

JERUSALEM (Sep. 13)

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said last night that the Israel Government takes “the gravest views” of the renewed Syrian attacks against workers in the demilitarized zone southeast of Lake Tiberias and intends to raise the issue at the United Nations.

The statement followed three border attacks yesterday from Syrian positions which were answered by Israeli guns. Firing from Syrian positions have occurred almost daily for the past two weeks. The aim of the attacks appeared to be an effort to halt the work of tractors clearing land in the area, which is entirely within Israeli territory.

(Michael S. Comay, chairman of the Israel delegation to the United Nations, has discussed with ranking members of the UN Secretariat the serious situation on the Syrian border and has asked that the UN react in the strongest possible manner by making representations on this issue to Syria on the highest possible level.)